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His challenge is to figure out what materials should be used to make the optical fiber so that they do not decrease the laser's power.

Zhu is working on diodes that convert electricity to light.

The main challenge for him is engineering a highly powerful light beam that also goes in one direction, a difficult combination. (Learn more about Zhu's research here.)

Much of the laser research is based out of what is commonly called COMSET, which stands for the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies at Clemson's Advanced Materials Research Laboratory in Anderson County.

Handheld laser blasters were also used throughout the films, seen here in 'Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope' (1977) with actors, from left, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as Han Solo

'They have done a spectacular job in adding to Clemson's already stellar reputation in defense research, especially as it relates to lasers,' Stephen Foulger, COMSET's director, said of Ballato and Zhu. 'Their awards are well-deserved and a testament to the strength of their research and the COMSET program.'

Ballato, the former COMSET director, said that Clemson's edge in laser research can be traced back to the late 1990s.

At the time, all the optical-fiber research was primarily focused on telecommunication. It was the early boom days of the internet and optical fiber is what carries internet traffic.

Ballato and other Clemson researchers looked for an under-served market and found one in the Department of Defense.

'Time and again we've listened to what they needed,' he said. 'We've written proposals specifically targeting new ideas around what they need. The testament is in the funding. We've delivered on those problems. We just keep on doing it.'

Clemson has maintained its relationship with the military through two wars while building up research infrastructure and expertise. COMSET now has the only industry-grade optical fiber capability at a U.S. university.

The university's facilities include a two-story draw tower that allows researchers to create optical fiber. A team of researchers complement each other by focusing on different parts of a laser.

Earlier this year a silent killer that could spell the end for enemy drones has been tested by US Army infantry troops for the first time.

During a ten day firing exercise, 50 drones were brought down by the laser weapon, an improved version of a system that was tested last year.

And it is hoped that Stryker infantry-transport vehicles mounted with the laser could soon be deployed to the front lines.

A silent laser system that could take down enemy drones has been tested by the US army. The Mobile High Energy Laser is mounted on Stryker infantry-transport vehicles (pictured)

DRONE KILLERS

Researchers are engineering and testing lasers that can destroy and melt components of incoming threats, including enemy drones, missiles, mortars, and artillery.

The laser can now achieve five kilowatts of power, up from two last year.

By 2018, it's hoped that it will be able to shoot an 18-kilowatt beam.

It includes on-board radar tacking and a camera which allows soldiers to visually track enemy drones and aircraft, as well as increased range.

It can perform a 'hard kill,' when the on-board laser shoots a drone out of the sky, and also includes the ability to cut off communications between a drone and its ground control station - what is termed a 'soft kill'.

The Mobile High Energy Laser (MEHEL) is just one system the US Army is exploring to deal with the growth of inexpensive off-the-shelf unmanned aerial systems that are being used in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

MEHEL 2.0 is one of three drone-killing systems under evaluation at the 2017 Maneuver Fires Integration Experiment at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, which ran from April 3 to April 13.

The laser can now achieve five kilowatts of power, up from two last year.

By 2018, it's hoped that it will be able to shoot an 18-kilowatt beam.

It includes on-board radar tacking and a camera which allows soldiers to visually track enemy drones and aircraft, as well as increased range.

It can perform a 'hard kill,' when the on-board laser shoots a drone out of the sky, and also includes the ability to cut off communications between a drone and its ground control station - what is termed a 'soft kill'.

And this is the first time that infantry soldiers have been in charge of testing the system.

Lieutenant colonel, Jeff Erts, who is in charge of the experiments, said: 'They love the system and they are excited about not only what they can do with it in the air, but what they can do with it on the ground as well.'

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The 5kW laser system was used to destroy 50 unmanned aerial vehicles (pictured) during the 2017 Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma which ran from April 3 to April 13.

Also tested was The Joint Tactical Autonomous Resupply System, or JTARS.

This drone is designed to move materials from the rear of the battlefield to the front line, without requiring a manned convoy operation.

The JTARS vehicle flew two low-weight individual first aid kits a short distance, as part a demonstration of the system.

Last year, MEHEL 1.0 was capable of shooting down 21 out of 23 drone targets.

At that time, the laser could achieve two kilowatts of power.

Researchers are also working to deploy laser weapons for Forward Operating Bases.

These, too, could incinerate and destroy approaching enemy drones or other threats, including mortars and cruise missiles.

Last June, it was revealed that laser weapons and Stinger missiles could be integrated into detection systems and mounted on vehicles, including Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, to better protect ground units.

A Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD) Directed Energy On-The-Move was then set to head into the next phase of development, enabling the vehicles to fire lasers while in motion.

The system mounted atop a ground vehicle can fire a 30 kilowatt-laser while stationary.

When completed in 2022 it will be able to fire on the go, and will likely be used by the Marine Corps to be paired with the Stinger Missile system.

This would give ground units a long overdue upgrade, after decades of operation with the Stinger.